A carer may have suffered concussion in a crash on the M5 before she left her vehicle and was struck by traffic.

The inquest into the death of Elaina Beard, 29, heard she was travelling on the M5 when the tragedy occurred between Taunton and Wellington.

She was travelling to work at 6.23am on February 9 last year.

Ms Beard, from Bridgwater, was driving a red Ford Ka in the inside lane before she steered directly into the central reservation, Taunton Coroners' Court heard.

Her car was then struck by two vehicles, when she is understood to have suffered concussion, before she got out of her vehicle. She was then struck by a number of cars after attempting to cross the motorway.

PC Niall Fyfe, a forensic collision investigator for Avon and Somerset Police, said she was in her vehicle for at least two minutes following the collision with the central reservation. She then used her mobile phone.

The M5 following the collision (Image: Thomas Cock)

Her vehicle was then struck by a blue Mercedes at 6.25am before being hit by a Rover, sending the vehicle into lane two.

The carer remained in her vehicle during these two serious collisions, the inquest heard.

The Rover was then involved in a second collision with an Alfa Romeo.

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Ms Beard then left her vehicle following the two collisions and was then struck by a number of vehicles travelling southbound.

She died at the scene as a result of her "catastrophic injuries".

Tony Williams, senior coroner for Somerset, read out a number of witness statements from drivers and passengers travelling northbound and southbound.

A common observation from the statements was that the weather conditions were "dark but dry" and there was no road lighting.

Elaina may have falsely believed she was towards "an area of safety" - PC Fyfe

The 29-year-old, who PC Fyfe believes was possibly dazed or concussed, walked to the central reservation and towards what she thought was "an area of safety".

PC Fyfe theorised Ms Beard was possibly dazed or concussed after she was involved in two serious collisions.

He said cars travelling northbound were unlikely to see her red Ford Ka due to the 'dim' conditions and the vehicle's headlights were out.

PC Fyfe read out a detailed report into the collision.

He believes the 29-year-old "failed to identify a developing situation in front of her" and "misjudged the situation."

"At approximately 6.23am on Friday, February 9, Ms Elaina Beard was driving a Ford motor car northbound on the M5 motorway at junction 25", he said.

A care company has paid tribute to a "passionate" carer who "lived and breathed" her work, who died on the M5 on February, 9, 2018

"It was dark with no carriageway lighting. It was not raining and there was good visibility.

"The traffic flow was normal for the time of day. For an unknown reason, Ms Beard swerved across the carriageway from lane one and into the central reservation.

"The vehicle rotated a number of times before coming to a stop in lane three.

"She remained sat in her vehicle as it was subsequently hit by a Mercedes Benz. Ms Beard's vehicle rotated clockwise and ended in lane two.

"Ms Beard was still sat in her vehicle when Mr Cole's vehicle (a Rover) collided with her and rotated anti-clockwise into lane two."

Police forensics at the scene of a crash on the M5 near Taunton this morning (February 9)

He summarised a fourth collision, between an Alfa Romeo and Rover, caused serious injuries to its partipiants.

PC Fyfe continued: "It is of my opinion none of the three additional collisions could have been avoided.

"Ms Elaina Beard exited her vehicle and climbed over the central reservation, possibly to go to an area of safety.

"She then made her way across the southbound carriageway and she was struck by southbound traffic.

He added that the side effects of tramadol, a painkiller she was taking, may have caused a lapse of concentration and quoted the drug's side effects.

Conclusion of inquest

The inquest was heard in Taunton

Tony Williams observed a toxicity report which disclosed that Elaina was taking some medication but it was judged to be at "prescribed levels".

He, however, observed that the painkiller tramadol was found in her body. Ms Beard's mother believed this is linked to a fibrosis condition.

After hearing the evidence, Mr Williams concluded that Ms Beard died after sustaining serious injuries following a road traffic collision.

He said: "At approximately 6.23am on February 9, 2018, whilst northbound on the M5 motorway between junctions 25 and 26, Elaina Beard lost control of her motor car and causing it to collide with the central barrier.